Add leadership to Rose's impressive skill-set

Bulls' indispensable man taking charge in all facets of game as he enters comeback season

October 26, 2013|By K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune reporter

(Joe Darrow / Tribune Illustration)

Luol Deng readily recalls the first time his mother met Derrick Rose.

"She kept talking to me about him and was just really happy with how he carried himself," Deng said. "To me, I don't care how good you are or what you do in life. Who you are as a person is more important than anything. And you can just tell Derrick is one of those kids who was raised the right way.

"He's not going to change. He's better at dealing with the spotlight than before, but all he really cares about are his teammates and winning. That's what a leader is."

On Tuesday, Rose and the Bulls begin one of the most anticipated seasons in franchise history. His prodigious talents have been on display throughout preseason, and his decision to skip last season following left knee surgery will keep him under close scrutiny all season.

At just 25, Rose is entering his sixth season, growing up on the world stage as he remains grounded in his hometown. For someone who has been teased that his favorite interview response during his rookie season was "um," Rose's maturation as a leader has trailed only slightly behind his on-court development.

And this growth isn't just limited to his confidence, to moments like rhetorically asking why he can't be the league's most valuable player. It has broadened to subtle yet substantive moments, times where he has pulled rookies aside to explain a concept or challenged a teammate during a timeout.

Rose may be quiet by nature, but his will to win invokes determination and demands of others.

"I never worried about Derrick in terms of taking care of himself," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "But in setting the tone for the team, not tolerating others not doing their job, I think that has been his biggest growth."

Rose is notoriously hard on himself. His post-practice shooting routine would get bleeped out if misses were filmed. This drive, paired with a tireless work ethic to improve his game, is an example of his non-verbal leadership.

"If you can't coach your best player hard, you can't coach your team hard. And you can coach Derrick Rose as hard as anybody on the entire team," general manager Gar Forman said. "You talk about leadership. That to me is probably the strongest type."

The verbal leadership is more evident to those who know Rose well. So while there may not be histrionics on the court or many headlines about his leadership, those within the organization say it's there.

"He's quiet by nature but he's comfortable with the guys around him," Deng said. "If you don't know Derrick or he doesn't know you, he just goes about his business. Guys he's comfortable with, he'll open up."

Taj Gibson came to the Bulls in 2009, the season after Rose. Gibson said he heard stories about how quiet Rose was throughout his rookie season. That no longer is the case.

"He expresses himself all the time in timeouts and dead ball (situations)," Gibson said. "He calls out defensive plays. He gets us in our right positions as a point guard. He's communicating more with Thibs, especially when he sees a mismatch. He talks a lot. He's just like Thibs."

Actually, nobody is just like Thibodeau, who typically looks ready to pull a lung on the sideline. This demeanor contrasts sharply with the typical stoicism Rose displays on the court.

But in many ways, Thibodeau and Rose are wired similarly. There aren't enough hours in the day for their desire to improve.

"The talent is pretty easy to see," he said. "What you don't see are all the intangibles that he brings to the team, the confidence. But the confidence doesn't come from a false bravado. It comes from his preparation, his study and the work he puts into every day.

"The best thing about Derrick is he's a team-first guy. He's committed to playing for the team, and that's special."

Put another way, Forman appreciates Rose's low maintenance.

"We've all seen it over the years: There may be scenarios where the star player wants or needs preferential type of treatment in whatever it is," Forman said. "And there's none of that with Derrick."

Asked if he feels he has grown as a leader, Rose looked up.

"I just know I put the work in," Rose said.

Translated, that's a yes.

Some critics viewed Rose's decision not to return last season as a selfish act, contrasting sharply with Rose's previously selfless reputation. This drumbeat grew during the playoffs as the Bulls gritted out a seven-game series victory over the Nets while players fought through myriad ailments and injuries.

Rose's supporters framed that choice differently, of course. Thibodeau praised Rose's ability not to listen to the outside noise, to stick to what he believed would be best for his long-term future and the long-term future of the franchise.

"He's selfless," Forman said. "It's always about team and not about him. It's about winning.

"When we did our (draft) background on him, coaches told us he was the first one in the gym, the last one to leave, had an incredible work ethic. They told us he was competitive in every drill. Anything you kept score in, he wanted to win. That's another type of leadership."

Indeed, leadership can come in many forms. Such moments can come on public stages or more private moments.

At a recent road exhibition game, a high school journalist who had secured a credential gingerly approached Rose for an on-camera interview for his class project. The youth apologized for his nervousness as he held up his camera and stumbled through his first question.

An awkward silence hung in the air for a split-second before a different voice broke it.